Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
By: Joseph M. Scriven, 1819-1886 (1855)
Listen to this simple piano version as you read, or watch the video complete with lyrics then read. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
We continue our journey through another great hymn today. The two halves of this stanza conclude with the same phrase so it is fair to say that is the main thrust of this stanza, “Take it to the Lord in prayer”. Who is this One we are supposed to be taking everything to, and what confidence do we have that we should? Let’s think about this.
Faithful Friend
The old sitcom “Cheers” theme song started, “You want to be where you can see
our troubles are all the same. You want to be where everybody knows your name.” That longing to be known and still welcomed is a powerful one. There is sharing of troubles that can certainly bring a group of people together. That context can provide a place to work through those things, but there is an even better way to create that environment.
We all desire to have a place to share our sorrows. It’s important to have a place to do that. To be able to be real, authentic, and still be loved. And such a place is home to friends who will listen and not judge. Hear without changing their view of us. Such places are truly rare.
Such a place can be found in our relationship with Christ. Not sure about that? Don’t take my word for it. Take His.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 ESV
First the invitation.
Come.
Then the clarification.
All who are weary and burdened.
Finally the explanation.
I will give you rest.
No friend can promise that to the extent Jesus can, and certainly no other friend can deliver like Him. The invitation, sure. The clarification, probably not. The explanation, rarely.
What is keeping you from coming to Jesus today? Maybe you have another friend who is faithful. That is awesome! We all need someone who can be Jesus with skin on. But not even they can come close to emulating what Jesus can do. Commit to come to the most faithful friend you could ever have as we continue to examine what to bring and why.
Sorrows Share
So we have established why we should come to Jesus: His promise. Now let’s talk about what to bring with you when you come.
Sorrows. Those things that cause us to be heavy laden and labor along through our days. What are yours? Maybe some happened today and you have not yet laid them down. Maybe some happened last month and you have tried but they still seem to press on your soul. Maybe there are some you have carried for a long time and they have kind of worn a rut in your spiritual shoulder, so much so that you are not sure if you will ever shake them.
You can.
Jesus wants to take them for you. He promised. He would give you rest.
Maybe you are not sure you want to, or that He will really take it, or maybe you have just grown so accustomed to carrying it that you do not know how to lay it down. Just bring it to Jesus today. Talk with Him about it. Listen to how He responds to you. Linger log enough to feel the burden lift, maybe not entirely, but at least begin to feel a little lighter as you begin to trust Jesus with it.
Weakness
Maybe you are not even sure how to talk about it to Him. That’s okay. As a follower of Christ, you have a helper. The Holy Spirit. He will help you bring everything to Jesus, even those things you do not even have the words to pray about with Him.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 ESV
Maybe you just need to sit with Jesus for awhile. Alone with Him. Quiet before Him. Letting the Spirit speak those things that are too much for words. We do not always know what to pray for, but the Spirit does.
Will you be quiet before the Lord and let the Holy Spirit do the talking for you? As the Spirit talks for you, He may also talk to you. Be willing to receive what He is saying. He may reveal a weakness that is effecting you that you can not even find the words to express. As He does, simply acknowledge it and let Him take it to Jesus for you.
Jesus already knows that weakness, for He knows every weakness and still He invites you to come. Come with it in your mind, and let Him speak to you about it. Let Him begin to strengthen, heal, forgive, make whole, renew, refresh, revive or whatever else it is you need.
Jesus, thank You for being my friend! You know my every weakness and still You invite me to come. Give me strength when I am weak so that I can find my way to You with every sorrow, and every other thing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Honest Thinking!
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Podcast 13.2 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
James 1:2-3 ESV
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Notice it does not say “if” you meet trials, but “when”. So the answer to the questions that start this stanza are “Yes!” Trials, temptations and trouble. But this verse speaks to the purpose in them. Make a short mental list of the ones that are a part of your life today.
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Philippians 4:6 ESV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
So when we face those things, we basically have two options: worry or pray. And they are not mutually exclusive. We can worry and pray, but we need not. Take that mental list to Him now. Don’t be discouraged, just take it to the Lord in prayer, and leave it with Him.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Matthew 11:28 ESV
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Another rhetorical question, but this time the answer is an emphatic “No”! We can never find another friend like Jesus who shares our burdens and invites us into a rest which only He offers. Have you received that rest? Will you walk in it today?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Romans 8:26 ESV
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
To be known, and still loved, is a powerful thing. Jesus knows the worst of us and yet invites us to bring everything to Him. When we lack the capacity to know how to do that, the Spirit helps us even then to take it all to Jesus! Praise Him for His friendship.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
The post Learning to Use Your Lips and Life appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Faithful Friend – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/hand-friend-people-friendship-782688/
Sorrows Share – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/felt-tip-pen-drawing-figure-graphics-1019133/
Weakness – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/desperate-stress-stressed-problem-2676556/
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